Obese men 'develop more aggressive prostate cancer'

Previous research may have shown that obese men are less likely to develop prostate cancer, but a new study suggests that those who do develop the disease are more likely to suffer from an aggressive form.

A study by researchers at Sweden's Umea University looked at 784 men, half of whom were being treated for prostate cancer.

Publishing their findings in the International Journal of Cancer, the researchers reveal that those men who were insulin-resistant, a condition which is linked to obesity, were more likely to have aggressive prostate cancer.

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Lead researcher Dr Par Stattin commented: 'Possibly, low levels of testosterone in obese men may explain why they are less likely to develop prostate cancer in the first place.

'But they may be at higher risk of a more aggressive form of cancer that is less reliant on testosterone,' he explained.

Obesity is known to be an important factor in several forms of cancer, mostly as a result of changes in hormones that are released by fatty tissue.

Prostate cancer accounts for 23 per cent of cancers diagnosed in men, with figures from Cancer Research UK indicating that nearly 31,900 men were diagnosed with the disease in the UK in 2003.

The materials in this web site are in no way intended to replace the professional medical care, advice, diagnosis or treatment of a doctor. The web site does not have answers to all problems. Answers to specific problems may not apply to everyone. If you notice medical symptoms or feel ill, you should consult your doctor - for further information see our Terms and conditions.